What Are GMO’s And Why Are They In Your Food?

November 15, 2012 10:47 AMBy Joan Dylan

<> on March 17, 2009 in New York, New York.

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Why are these G.M.O.’s all I hear about on the news lately? Well, they are Genetically Modified Organisms and they are in most foods today! Here is the latest report from Fox Ct.News and from Ct.com They say, “GMO’S in 80% of the food we eat: genetically modified organisms. Some say they pose serious health risks.
Some believe those risks to be so serious, they’re willing to break the law in order to notify their fellow consumers that products may contain GMOs.
During Connecticut’s last legislative session, a bill mandating the labeling of foods with genetically modified ingredients nearly passed. On November 6th, California voted down a similar measure of their own, called Proposition 37. But back in Connecticut some say foods with GMOs are too dangerous to wait, so they’re taking the labeling into their own hands, quite literally, whether it’s legal or not. Meanwhile, inside other Connecticut grocery stores, food policy advocate Tara Cook-Littman is sending a message about GMOs in a different way. She exclusively buys food certified as organic or non-GMO verified. The mother of three says her allegiance to non-GMO foods began when she felt sick several years ago and believes she was only healed after giving up “regular” food.”

Littman says,” they are not new… but have been used in foods for about 15 years in this Country, you’ll find GMO’ foods all over the shelves of your grocery stores because they help make crops pesticide resistant. They’re meant to help companies produce more food for their money and the FDA says they’re safe.”

But not everyone is stocking up on these foods but instead turning to organically grown… Littman makes her case:

“The majority of soy in this country is genetically modified”, says Littman, holding up a bottle of organic soy sauce she uses instead of the “off-the-shelf” version, which she believes is likely to contain genetically altered ingredients.
There are animal studies that link GMOs with infertility,allergies , with gastrointestinal disease, with autism, and with cancer.
Most American corn, soy sugar beet, cotton (for cotton seed oil) and canola crops are genetically modified and feared dangerous by those like Cook-Littman who are pushing for mandated product labeling at the state policy level”.

Representative Richard Roy of Milford passed cell phone and driving safety laws in Connecticut. His latest project is a bill to tackle GMOs, which he pitched last session and plans to reincarnate on the legislative floor in January.

While some manufacturers voluntarily label their products as GMO free, if a law is enacted, every single product on the supermarket shelves that contains GMO would have to say so. But on a larger scale, the hope among labeling advocates is that instead of manufacturers saying their product has GMO inside, they will decide to take the GMO out of the product, and in the process, alter the American farm system.

I for one am buying more organic foods but feeling a real pinch in the budget. I just feel in the long run my budget will have to give elsewhere…I mean this is my family’s health we are talking about.

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